Health Infrastructure

The French hospital model: scale, quality, and innovation serving resilient health systems

As of end‑2024, France’s hospital ecosystem includes 2,965 health facilities covering acute care, day care and home‑hospitalisation capacity. It is structured across public hospitals, private non‑profit institutions and private clinics, with activity levels evolving as day surgery and ambulatory services expand.

France structures care across graduated levels: community care, specialised care, and ultra‑specialised care within 32 university hospitals (CHU/CHRU), ensuring proximity for common care needs and concentration of expertise for complex conditions.

Quality and safety are assessed through a mandatory, independent certification led by the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS), renewed every 4 years.

The full ecosystem: hospitals, community‑based care and territorial coordination

France’s healthcare delivery is not only hospital‑based. It relies on a structured network of health centres, multidisciplinary practices, and territorial coordination bodies, ensuring continuity before and after hospital care.

The hospital sector in figures

Health centres

Health centres are outpatient structures delivering primary and, where relevant, secondary care. In addition they provide prevention, diagnosis and treatment without inpatient stay. They operate with salaried professionals, are open to all, and mainly provide care reimbursed by national health insurance. Their legal framework is defined in Public Health Code L6323‑1.

In 2025, the Ministry updated national guidance to clarify creation, operation, oversight and safety requirements, including specific approval procedures for dental, ophthalmology and orthoptics activities.

The Ministry reports more than 2,500 registered centres (including ~582 pluriprofessional).
(For context, national observatory data counted 2,945 centres in 2023 across medical, dental and nursing activities. Non‑ministerial.)

Multidisciplinary practices (MSP) and first‑line expansion

Maisons de santé pluriprofessionnelles (MSP) regroup physicians and allied professionals around a local project of care reviewed by the regional health agencies (ARS). They contribute to access to care in both urban and rural settings.

A national action plan aims for 4,000 MSP by 2027, furthermore financial and engineering support is provided for project founders.

Territorial coordination (CPTS & DAC)

France deploys CPTS (professional territorial communities) and DAC (coordination support structures) to improve care pathways, prevent fragmentation and support complex cases. These mechanisms expanded nationwide through the “Ma Santé 2022” reforms.

Impact for international patients:
Although specialised care and hospital treatment remain the main entry point for foreign patients, this primary‑care architecture ensures continuity, follow‑up and prevention during and after hospital interventions.

Policies supporting hospital and system improvement

Ségur de la santé

A multi‑year investment effort totalling €19 bn aimed at modernising hospital and medico‑social infrastructure, strengthening digital health and restoring financial capacity across facilities. Deployment is largely managed by the regional health agencies (ARS).
Earlier plans specified €7.5 bn for hospital real-estate, guiding major renovation and construction projects.

Innovation Santé 2030 / France 2030

A national programme dedicating €7.5 bn to health innovation, covering biotherapies, bioproduction, digital health, medtech and preparedness for emerging threats. Part of the broader €54 bn France 2030 plan to transform strategic sectors and support industrialisation.

Quality and transparency

All hospitals and clinics undergo mandatory HAS certification every four years, with public results available on Qualiscope, which consolidates certification levels and quality indicators.

Access policies and territorial regulation

ARS publish priority intervention zones (ZIP/ZAC) to direct resources and support where access to care is insufficient. Health centres located in ZIP may receive targeted support.

Hospital capabilities

France’s hospital system combines specialised, research‑active and community‑embedded facilities. University hospitals (CHU/CHRU) ensure the care‑training‑research continuum and operate reference centres for complex conditions.

The system supports prevention, ambulatory care, day surgery and home‑hospitalisation, which expanded significantly in recent years. (DREES SAE 2024)

International recognition

Several French hospitals regularly appear in independent international rankings such as the Newsweek “World’s Best Hospitals” report, which analyses care quality, patient experience, clinical outcomes, and peer recommendations. These rankings often highlight major university hospitals, including AP‑HP sites and regional CHU, for their role in complex care, research, and training.
(Source: Newsweek, “World’s Best Hospitals”, latest available edition.)

For international patients: how to access care in France

1. Identify the right hospital

• Use My French Hospital (English/French) to locate appropriate public or private facilities according to your condition and submit a request.
• Major hospital groups such as AP‑HP (Paris) provide dedicated information for non‑resident, self‑pay patients, including adult and paediatric pathways and interpreter support.

2. Medical review and quotation

Hospitals assess each case individually. Where treatment is possible, they send:

• A medical acceptance,
• A cost estimate detailing medical care and non‑medical charges.
  These documents are also required for visa applications.

3. Visa for medical treatment (if required)

Depending on nationality and duration of stay, foreign patients may need a medical short‑stay visa. Requirements include the hospital’s written agreement and cost estimate. Official guidance is available on France‑Visas.
Consular checklists include detailed documentation such as medical files, written agreements and proof of payment or financial guarantees.

4. Quality information

Patients can consult HAS and Qualiscope to view hospital certification results and quality indicators.

References

Official statistics & system data

• DREES – Statistique annuelle des établissements de santé (SAE), latest available edition (e.g., 2024 data)
• Ministry of Health – Centres de santé (guidance & regulatory framework)
• Public Health Code – Articles L6323‑1 and related regulatory texts governing health centres

Quality & certification

• Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) – Hospital certification framework
• Qualiscope (HAS) – Public evaluation results for hospitals and clinics

Primary care & territorial organisation

• Ministry of Health – Maisons de santé pluriprofessionnelles (MSP) and national plan “4 000 MSP by 2027”
• CPTS & DAC documentation – Territorial coordination mechanisms (Ma Santé 2022)
• ARS regional documentation, including zonings (ZIP/ZAC)

Health system investment & policy

• Ségur de la santé – Multi‑year system modernisation plan (public sources & Ministry communications)
• France 2030 / Innovation Santé 2030 – National investment and innovation strategy

International patient information

France‑Visas – Medical treatment visa requirements and supporting documentation

My French Hospital – Official portal for international patients

AP‑HP International Patients – Care pathways for non‑resident patients

See also: Our expertise.